51995PC0199(02)

Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1101/89 on structural improvements in inland waterway transport (1*) (95/C 318/09) (Text with EEA relevance) COM(95) 199 final - 95/0122(SYN)

(Submitted by the Commission on 15 September 1995)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 75 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

In cooperation with the European Parliament,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,

Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 1101/89 (2), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No . . ./95, introduces measures for structural improvements in the inland waterway sector; whereas that Regulation sets out to reduce structural overcapacity in inland waterway transport by providing for vessel-scrapping schemes coordinated at Community level;

Whereas Regulation (EEC) No 1101/89 provides for the possibility of Community financing for 1995 to 1998; whereas the procedure for 1996, 1997 and 1998 has still to be determined;

Whereas the system of structural improvements currently in force is in principle to be financed primarily by the operators in the sector; whereas the latter must provide this financing through annual contributions;

Whereas public contributions must be granted annually, in line with the contributions made by the trade; whereas measures are scheduled for a period of three years from 1996 to 1998; whereas they must be assessed annually;

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The following paragraphs are added to Article 4 (a) of Regulation (EEC) No 1101/89:

'4. Financial contributions from the Community for 1996, 1997 and 1998 shall not be more than double the contributions from the trade.

5. The Member States in question shall jointly make available from their funds similar amounts to those from the Community for the years mentioned in paragraph 4. The proportionate share of each Member State concerned shall be calculated against the size of its active fleet as compared with the Member States. These amounts shall be determined by the Commission in conjunction with the authorities of the various scrapping funds.

6. At the beginning of each year during the scrapping operations for 1996 to 1998 the Commission shall lay down, as part of this Regulation, the procedures for scrapping for the year in progress as a function of available finances, market developments and liberalization measures taken.`

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

(1*) This proposal is drafted in the light of the proposal for an amendment to Regulation (EEC) No 1101/89 submited by the Commission on 7 June 1995 (Doc. COM(95) 200 final) (OJ No C 292, 7. 11. 1995, p. 16).

(2) OJ No L 116, 28. 4. 1989, p. 25.